Hard Truths

Hard Truths that most people don’t think about when they think about ARC Fitness.

Behind every ARC Fitness success story are some real struggles that rarely make the headlines:

• Relapse is a constant challenge. Many people who use our services battle setbacks and challenges, and ARC has had to develop tough but compassionate pathways and guidelines for those who relapse. We prioritise balancing support provision with the reality of long waiting lists and limited programme spaces. Sometimes ARC, like other organisations,  is not the right place for someone at a particular time and that’s ok, but our doors never remain closed to anyone.

• Funding remains uncertain. ARC, like many of the organisations in the C&V sector, receives some funding from a number of different organisations such as the National Lottery Community Fund, The Public Health agency, but this doesn’t cover all costs of running our organisation. The team at ARC works tirelessly to raise funds, often through community campaigns and personal sacrifice, just to keep the doors open and services accessible to those who need them the most. Our future always remains uncertain.

• Public perception can be a double-edged sword. ARC strives to offer free support to all those seeking help, this places great pressure to find funding sources to do so and funding is never guaranteed. These financial realities sometimes require charging for private or unfunded services, which can lead to misunderstanding and criticism from the community.

• Demand far exceeds capacity. Like all community and statutory addiction partners,  waiting lists and access to programmes remains a constant challenge. We have we have worked really hard to reduce these but people must wait for a chance to join the programme, putting pressure on staff and resources and making tough decisions inevitable. To alleviate this we offer a free and accessible walking support groups on a Monday evening and a Friday morning in Derry, and a Wednesday morning in Strabane, to support people waiting to receive formal support.

• Maintaining a safe, supportive environment is hard work. Bringing together people from all walks of life means navigating issues like confidentiality, boundaries, and emotional volatility—especially when setbacks occur is tough. We constant ensure that ARC remains a safe space for those who need it, our community guidelines ensure this happens. When people feel safe they can be vulnerable, when people are vulnerable, they can heal.